Blanchaquinone: A new anthraquinone from an Australian Streptomyces sp.

Chemical analysis of an Australian Streptomyces species yielded a range of known anthracyclines and biosynthetically related metabolites, including daunomycin (1), E-rhodomycinone (2), 11-hydroxyauramycinone (3), 11-hydroxysulfurmycinone (4), aklavinone (5), bisanhydro-gamma-rhodomycinone (6), and the anthraquinone 7, as well as the hitherto unreported blanchaquinone (8). The structure assigned to 8 was secured by detailed spectroscopic analysis and correlation to known analogues, such as the anthraquinone 7. This account also represents the first natural occurrence of 3, 4, and 7 and the first spectroscopic characterization of 11-hydroxysulfurmycinone (4).

Rugulotrosins A and B: Two new antibacterial metabolites from an Australian isolate of a penicillium sp.

Two new antibacterial agents, rugulotrosin A (1) and B (2), were obtained from cultures of a Penicillium sp. isolated from soil samples acquired near Sussex Inlet, New South Wales, Australia. Rugulotrosin A (1) is a chiral symmetric dimer, and its relative stereostructure was determined by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Rugulotrosin B (2) is a chiral asymmetric dimer isomeric with 1. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic analysis with comparison to the co-metabolite 1 and previously reported fungal metabolites. Both rugulotrosins A and B displayed significant antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, while rugulotrosin A was also strongly active against Enterococcus faecalis and B. cereus.

A new class of critical sets in Latin squares

Previously the process of finding critical sets in Latin squares has been inside cumbersome by the complexity and number of Latin trades that, must be constructed. In this paper we develop a theory of Latin trades that yields more transparent constructions. We use these Latin trades to find a new class of critical sets for Latin squares which are a product of the Latin square of order 2 with a. back circulant Latin square of odd order.

Calbistrin E and two other new metabolites from an Australian isolate of Penicillium striatisporum

An Australian isolate of Penicillium striatisporum collected near Shalvey, New South Wales, exhibited selective antifungal activity against Candida albicans versus Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Bioassay-directed fractionation yielded members of the rare class of fungal metabolites known as the calbistrins. These included a new example of this structure class, calbistrin E (1), as well as the known polyenes calbistrin C (2) and deformylcalbistrin A (3). Also recovered from P. striatisporum were new triene and butenolide acids, striatisporin A (4) and striatisporolide A (5), together with the known fungal metabolites versiol (6) and (+)-hexylitaconic acid (7). Structures for all metabolites were determined by detailed spectroscopic analysis.

Spongosoritin A: A new polyketide from a Fijian marine sponge, Spongosorites sp.

A new polyketide, spongosoritin A, with a rare vinylagous alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma-lactone moiety was isolated from a Fijian marine sponge, Spongosorites sp., and the structure assigned by detailed spectroscopic analysis.

New insights into the interactions of serum proteins with bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV): Transport and biotransformation of insulin-enhancing vanadium pharmaceuticals

Significant new insights into the interactions of the potent insulin-enhancing compound bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV) (BMOV) with the serum proteins, apo-transferrin and albumin, are presented. Identical reaction products are observed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) with either BMOV or vanadyl sulfate (VOSO4) in solutions of human serum apo-transferrin. Further detailed study rules out the presence of a ternary ligand-vanadyl-transferrin complex proposed previously. By contrast, differences in reaction products are observed for the interactions of BMOV and VOSO4 with human serum albumin (HSA), wherein adduct formation between albumin and BMOV is detected. In BMOV-albumin solutions, vanadyl ions are bound in a unique manner not observed in comparable solutions Of VOSO4 and albumin. Presentation of chelated vanadyl ions precludes binding at the numerous nonspecific sites and produces a unique EPR spectrum which is assigned to a BMOV-HSA adduct. The adduct species cannot be produced, however, from a solution Of VOSO4 and HSA titrated with maltol. Addition of maltol to a VOSO4-HSA solution instead results in formation of a different end product which has been assigned as a ternary complex, VO(ma)(HSA). Furthermore, analysis of solution equilibria using a model system of BMOV with 1-methylimidazole (formation constant log K = 4.5(1), by difference electronic absorption spectroscopy) lends support to an adduct binding mode (VO(ma)(2)-HSA) proposed herein for BMOV and HSA. This detailed report of an in vitro reactivity difference between VOSO4 and BMOV may have bearing on the form of active vanadium metabolites delivered to target tissues. Albumin binding of vanadium chelates is seen to have a potentially dramatic effect on pharmacokinetics, transport, and efficacy of these antidiabetic chelates.

New product screening in fast moving consumer goods

Theory suggests that the dimensions that are incorporated in the new product screening decision will differ according to the stage of the development process. The outcome of the application of different screening dimensions would be quicker, realistic and more reliable screening decisions. This research project builds on existing new product development and screening literature by investigating new product screening in international fast moving consumer goods companies. It further builds on the existing literature by measuring decision-making relating to projects in 'real time', as managers' responses refer to projects they are currently working on. The introduction of branded consumer products allows us to evolve scales used in new product research by further developing variables relating to branding, promotion and retailer power. The project uncovers multiple dimensions of new product screening and evaluation within this branded product sector. These dimensions are found to differ in their ability to discriminate between two groups of accepted and rejected projects at each of four stages of the new product development process. This investigation provides the intelligence with which managers can determine the likelihood of project acceptance and rejection at different stages of the development process. It highlights the need for managers to apply stage-specific dimensions in the new product screening decision and advocates the redefinition of new product screening from both an academic and managerial perspective. The screening decision should not be viewed as a single, early decision in a product development process, but as a series of stage specific decisions regarding future project potential.